Special Coverage

Emerald: Horatio nails speed

AUBURN, Wash. - Horatio, a lightly-raced son of Sea Hero with a withering stretch kick, took advantage of a brisk pace to defeat 11 other 2-year-olds in Saturday's

1 1/16-mile, $100,000 Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs.

Under Javier Matias, the Dave Forster-trained Horatio came from far back to grab the lead with a furlong remaining, then drew out to score by nearly three lengths over Melcapwalker in 1:46.40. Moloch, part of a three-horse entry that was favored at 7-5, got up for third.

Horatio paid $9.80 to win as the third favorite and earned $55,000 for his first win in four career starts.